Fewer RIDE checks, fewer charges

Waterloo Regional Police staged 12 checks this holiday season, compared to 45 in Christmas 2016

WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo Regional Police laid only two impaired driving charges during last month’s festive RIDE program, but that may have more to do with how many vehicles they stopped rather than fewer people drinking and driving.

During the 2017 Christmas season RIDE program, which ran from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, police conducted 12 RIDE checks.

That’s a far cry from last year when there were 45 RIDE checks across Waterloo Region during the Christmas season.

In December, 1,977 vehicles were checked, while last year 12,621 vehicles were stopped and checked.

Staff Sgt. Mike Hinsperger, head of traffic, said one RIDE program was held per evening on weekends. He said the RIDE programs are conducted on overtime and officers are not regularly scheduled to cover RIDE checks.

The overtime costs are covered by a provincial grant and do not come out of the police budget, he said.

Hinsperger said officers need to sign up for overtime to cover the RIDE programs.

“That’s the resources we had,” he said.

“We encourage officers to sign up for RIDE programs.”

During the RIDE checks, police also laid four over 80 mg charges, one charge each for dangerous driving and stunt driving.

In total, 95 highway traffic act charges were laid, ranging from running red lights, speeding, seatbelt violations and distracted driving.

Police conducted 36 roadside tests, including alcohol and drugs.

Fifteen drivers had their licences suspended, ranging from a 24-hour suspension to a 90-day suspension.

In addition to stationary roadside RIDE checks, police conducted mobile units in which police move around.

The mobile units require fewer officers, Hinsperger said.

Across the province, departments with Ontario Provincial Police conducted RIDE programs from Nov. 24 to Jan. 2. Cambridge OPP conducted 62 RIDE checks during that time and stopped 4,680 vehicles.

Const. Lauren Ball said officers are scheduled to work RIDE programs as part of their regular shift.

“It’s part of our duties,” she said.

Ball said the 62 checks were about twice as many as OPP officers do in a regular month.

During the festive RIDE program, Cambridge OPP laid one charge of over 80 mg. But during that same time, officers laid 11 charges related to impaired driving or over 80 mg at police stops.

In addition to the over 80 mg charge, Cambridge OPP issued six three-day suspensions.

Ball said during the festive RIDE officers expand the checks to include morning checks for those drivers who believe they have slept off the alcohol the night before but still may be impaired.

In Wellington County, OPP conducted 100 RIDE checks and charged a total of 27 drivers with impaired driving or refusing to provide a breath sample.